Al-Manar Centre

The Al-Manar Centre is a Sunni mosque in Cardiff’s Cathays district. It stands at 2 Glynrhondda Street, a quiet urban address near the city centre. The building opened in 1992 to serve the local Muslim community. Its name means ‘the lighthouse’ in Arabic, reflecting its role as a guiding place of worship. The centre belongs to the Ahlus-Sunnah tradition within British Islam. Although a claim once suggested an 1860 mosque at the same site, records show this was a mistake. The Liverpool Muslim Institute, founded in 1891, remains the UK’s oldest confirmed mosque. The centre gained wider attention in 2014 when three young men linked to Islamic State appeared in media reports. Two brothers from Cardiff had worshipped there before travelling to Syria. The mosque stated it had no role in their radicalisation. One brother later said he had learned about jihad from family rather than local imams. In 2025, the Charity Commission issued a formal warning after a video shared by the centre praised Hamas. Trustees were criticised for weak social media controls and failing to act on earlier advice. Visitors find a modest brick building with a small entrance on Glynrhondda Street. Inside, the prayer hall is plain and functional, with carpets and simple furnishings. The centre organises regular sermons and community events for local Muslims. A small office handles administration and welfare support. The surrounding streets are typical of a Cardiff residential area, with terraced houses and local shops nearby. Despite occasional controversy, the mosque continues to serve its congregation and neighbours.